Typewriting machine



Filed Dec.

FIGJ.

Patented June 12, I934 UNITED STATES TYPEWRITING MACHINE 'William F. Helmond, West Hartford/Conn assignor to Underwood Elliott Fisher Company, .New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 14, 1932, Serial No. 647,079

12 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for holding cards and other small work-pieces against the front of a revoluble platen of a typewriting machine.

My co-pending application No. 285,599, filed June 15, 1928 (now Patent No. 1,918,598 dated July 18, 1933) discloses work-holders mounted separately on each side of the printing point, each work-holder projecting upwardly from a point -where it is pivotally supported in a stationary bracket, and being provided at its upper end with a finger bearing on the upper front of the platen above the printing line. By means of its'pivotal support each of said work-holders is swingable fore andaft for casting its finger forwardly from and back to the platen.

A feature of the present improvements resides in novel means for mounting each work-holder for up-and-down movement in front of the platen so that its work-holding finger may be either in close work-holding juxtaposition to the platen at a point above the printing line, or in substantially lower position for clearing the printing line. A mount for slidably supporting the work- 1- holder is therefore arranged so that the upward 'movement of the work-holder finger is directed rearwardly. Said finger may thus be brought from a retracted position, preferably below the printing line and not unduly forward'of the plat- 0 en to a point above the printing line in close "juxtaposition to the platen-surface, said latter point due to the platen curvature being some what behind the printing line of the platen. It follows therefore that said latter point will also be behind the retracted position of the finger. It is a further feature of the present improvements that in order to minimize the space taken up forwardly of the platen by the work-holder and its mount, the latter may be curved in the 40 direction in which the work-holder is slidably shifted. The curvature of the mount determines the direction of the upward shift of the'workholder and thus may po nt the work-holder fingr rearwardly, as stated, and furthermore the curvature of the mount serves the purpose of keeping the lower parts of the mount and the work-holder from extending unduly into the space in front of the platen. The novel workholding device is thus in harmony with that printhat thespace in front of the platen be, as far ciple of typewriter construction which prescribes A tion lying close to the front of the usual printing-line scale, takes up very little room as compared to the room taken up in front of the platen by a work-holder which is swung forwardly.

There may be an individual guide for each work-holder, in the form of a plate curved to direct the work-holder between operative and retracted positions as stated. The work-holder and guide-plate are arranged so that the workholder is slidably retained upon the guide, the 5 guide, itself, forming a bracket which may be attachable to a support. The guide may have, on each side of the slidable Work-holder, a perforation to receive a screw for attachment to said support. Spanning said perforations and there- 7 fore overlying. the work-holder is a detent-memher which may be secured by' means of the same screws that hold the guide to said support. Said detent-member includes a resilient detenting part formed to engage a corresponding formation in the holder to yieldably hold the latter in its operative position. The work-holder may also be formed so as to be yieldably held also in its retracted or lower position by the detentmember.

In order that'the novel work-holding device may be operative in the upper case as well as in the lower case position of a case-shifting platen, the support for the guiding brackets or mounts may be as shown in my Patent No. 1,302,161, issued April 29, 1919. Said patent shows a structure extending lengthwise of a platen for supporting a combined printing-line scale and front paper-deflector. Said structure is shiftable up and down with the case-shifting movements of the platen and the novel work-holder mounts may be secured by the aforesaid screws to abutments provided on said structure at either side of the printing point. The feature of curving the work-holding device as stated renders it feasible to arrange said device in its entirety close to 'the front of said combined printing-line scale and front paper-deflector. Since the slidable work-holder cannot be displaced from its effective position except by an intended downward movement, no spring is necessary to force it toward the platen. The slidablework-holder may therefore be easily manipulated for shifting it between its two positions.

Other features and advantages will hereafter appear. a

In the accompanying drawing;

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the typewriterplaten and part of the Underwood case-shifting structure supporting the novel work-holders.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side elevation showing the case-shifting structure and the novel work-holder in its operative position holding a work-piece against the platen at a point above the printing line.

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional side elevation showing a fragment of the platen and also showing the work-holder shifted downwardly to retract its work-holding finger below the printing line.

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 1, showing the work-holder in its operative position.

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing details of the assembly of the work-holder with its mount and detent-member and also showing attachment of said mount to the case-shifting support.

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the different parts which make up the work-holder spread out.

The invention is illustrated in connection with anUnderwoodtypewriter of which only such parts are shown as relate to the novel work-holders. 10 represents one of the type-bars printing on a work-piece 11, Figure 1, positioned around a revoluble platen 12 and held thereagainst by lower feed-rolls 13, 14, as indicated in Figure 2. A platen-axle 15 is journaled in a platen-frame 16 guided for case-shifting movements by means not shown. The Underwood case-shifting frame 1'7 includes a pivoted rock-shaft 1.8 fastened to end plates 19 which support a front rail 20 along which travels a roll 21 of'the platen-frame 16. Operation of a partly shown shift-key lever 22 swings the case-shift frame 17 about the axis of the rock-shaft 18 to raise and lower the front rail 20 for case shifting the platen-frame.

A printing-line scale 25 follows the case-shifting movements of the platen. To this end, as shown in my aforesaid Patent 1,302,161, the scale extending lengthwise of the platen is mounted to upstand edgewise on a support formed by a cross-bar v26 clearing the top of the type-bar segment 2'7 and its bracket 28, Said cross-bar 26 has at each end a downwardly and rearwardly projecting arm 29 pivoted tothe shiftframe 17, as at 30, Figure 2. For directing the cross-bar 26 in parallelism with the up-and-down movements of the shift-frame rail 20, a pair of flanged rolls 32 co-operate with slotted projections 33 upstanding from the cross-bar. Each roll 32 is mounted in a bracket 35 secured to the front type-bar segment 27 at 36. For keeping the front faces of said projections 33 in abutment with the rolls 32, the cross-bar 26 is urged forwardly and, to this end, each of its arms 29 is pulled upon by a spring 3'7 anchored to the shift frame. For support on the cross-bar 26, the printingline scale 25, which is also a front paper-deflector, has fastened thereto, near its ends, downwardly-extending clips 39 secured at their lower ends to vertical front flanges 40 of the crossbar by rivets 41. It may be noted that the aforesaid roll-engaging projections 33 are upward extensions of said flanges 40. Rivets for securing a pair of intermediate scale-supporting clips 42 at their lower ends to the flanges 40 are replaced by fasteners which also serve for the novel work-holding devices, which are preferably supported by the case-shifting cross-rod 26, and which will now be described.

On each side of the printing point-and spaced therefrom, as indicated in Figure 1, is an elongate plate 44 upstanding lengthwise in front of and close to the printing-line scale 25. Said plate 44 is curved lengthwise in an arc, struck from an appropriate point behind the platen, for pointing said plate 44 in the direction relatively to the platen, as seen in Figures 3 and 4.

Said plate 44 forms a mount for an elongate plate 45, having, as seen in Figure 6, an upper work-holding tip or finger 46 formed by a preferably triangular head 47 topping a shank 48. The mount-plate 44 is secured to the cross-bar 26, as will be presently described, and the workholding plate is shiftable up and down thereon for shifting the work-holding finger 46 between close work-holding juxtaposition to the platen at a point above the printing line, as seen in Figures 2 and 4, and a retracted position wherein said finger is substantially lower, preferably below the printing line, as seen in Figure 3.

For slidably retaining the work-holding plate for up-and-down movement on the mountplate 44, the latter has extending lengthwise therein a slot 49. Each one of a pair of spaced studs 56 has a collar 51 fitting said slot and also has a shank 52 riveted into a hole 53 (Figure 6) of the work-holding plate 45. Each stud also has a head .54 for retaining the work-holding plate 45 against the mount-plate 44. Struck up from the triangular head 47 of the work-holding plate 45 is a finger-piece 55, whereby said work-holding plate may be easily manipulated in moving it up or down.

For attachment of the card-holding device to the case-shifting cross-bar 26, the mount-plate 44 has ears .56 projecting beyond opposite sides of the card-holding plate 45. said cars 56 having holes 57 spaced to register with screw-holes 58 in the flanges 40 of the cross-bar 26 and which receive screws 59 whereby the card-holding devices are secured to said cross-bar.

I A detent-member 60, overlying the front of the work-holding plate 45 for holding the latter in its effective position, has holes 61 spaced like the holes 57 of the mount-plate 44 so that together with the mount-plate it may be secured by screws 59. The detent-member is made of spring metal and is generally flat except for a detentbutton 62 formed at the end of a tongue 63. Flanged collars 64 fit the holes 57 of the ears 56, the flanged collars serving to space the detentmembcr 60 forwardly of said ears so that it does not bend the card-holding plate 45. For clearing the side edges of said plate 45 the flanges may be flattened as at 66, Figure 6. Collars 68 and 69 may be interposed behind the cars 56 for spacing the mount-plate 44 forwardly so that none of the par-ts of the device need touch the scale 25. The lower end of the clip 42 is interposed between the collar 69 and the cross-bar flange 40 and thus said lower clip-end may also be secured by one of the screws 59. The workholding plate 45 has beveled-edge depressions '70, in which the detent-button 62 seats itself. One depression 70 coacts with said button 62 for yieldably holding the work-holding plate 45 in its effective position as in Figure 4. As seen in Figure 3, the detent-button. 62 may engage the other depression 70 for yieldably holding the work-holding plate 45 in its retracted position. The upward-and-downward movements of said plate 45 may be limited by abutment of the ends of the slot 49 with the collars 51 of the studs 50. Thus, in the operative position of the device, the upper end of the slot may abut the collar of the upper stud as seen in Figure 4. When the work-holding plate 45 is retracted, as in Figure 3, the collar of the lower stud abuts the lower end of said slot.

As seen in Figure 1, there may be one of the card-holding plates 45 on each side of the printing line. It will be seen that the novel device takes very little room in the space in front of the platen and that the card-holding finger maybe retracted entirely below the printing line. It will be further seen that the space which the device occupies forwardly of the platenis substantially minimized by the curvature of the mount and work-holding plates. Said curvature not only points the mount for directing the finger 46 of the work-holding plate 45 to a point in close workholding juxtaposition to the platen above the printing line, but also minimizes the forward component of the downward movement of said plate 45. By virtue of the non-swinging connection between the mount 44 and the work-holding plate 45, the latter is held in its operative position toward the platen, no spring being necessary to force the plate 45, itself, toward the platen. Thus the movement of the Work-holding finger 46 into and out of effective position may be effected with a slight effort of the operators'finger.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improve-- ments may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. The combination with a revoluble frontstrike platen, of a work-holding device including an upstanding work-holding finger, and a mount on which said finger is slidably guided and pointed for up-and-down movement having .a fore-andaft component for shifting a work-holding part of said finger between such close work-holding juxtaposition to the platen at a point above and behind the printing line as to deflect the workpiece rearwardly, and a downwardly retracted printing-linemncovering position somewhat forward of the platen, said mount and work-holding finger being arranged so that the-finger is shifted in a curved path to minimize said component, whereby said device is made to hug, that is, is kept close to the platen at both adjustments.

2. The combination with a revoluble frontstrike platen, of an upstanding work-holding finger, a mount on which said finger is freely and slidably guided for up-and down curvilinear movement for shifting an upper work-holding tip of said finger between close work-holding juxtaposition to the platen at a point above and behind the printing line, to deflect a work-piece rearwardly, and a downwardly retracted printing-line-uncovering position somewhat forward of the platen, said mount being arranged to of itself present and maintain said work-ho1ding tip in said juxtaposition to the platen as distinguished from a work-holder spring-pressed against the platen, and a detent device on said mount for yieldably holding the work-holding finger in its effective position.

3. The combination with a revoluble frontstrike platen, of an upstanding work-holder in front of the platen, a mount on which said holder is slidably guided for up-and-down curvilinear movement so that an upper work-holding tip of said holder is shiftable between close workhold- .ing juxtaposition to the platen at a point above and behind the printing line and a downwardly retracted printing-line-uncovering position, a support for the mount, means for fastening said mount to said support at points on opposite sides of said holder, and a detent-member overlying the holder crosswise and secured at both sides of the holder by said fastening means, said detent having midway between said fastening means a part yieldably holding the work-holder in its effective position. i

4. Ina front-strike typewriting machine having a revoluble platen and a printing line scale extending lengthwise of the platen and upstanding in front thereof, the combination of a workholding finger, and a mount upstanding in front of said scale for slidably supporting said finger for endwise up-and-down movement having a fore-and-aft component, so as to shift an upper work-holding tip of said finger between close work-holding juxtaposition to the platen at a point above and behind the printing line and a downwardly retracted printing-line-uncovering position forwardly of said scale, said mount being in the form of a guide curved in the direction in which the finger is shifted and standing close to the front of said scale, the curvature of said guide serving to minimize the room which the work-holding finger and mount occupy in front of the. platen and scale.

5. In a front-strike typewriting machine having a revoluble platen and an auxiliary device extending lengthwise of the platen and upstanding in front thereof to reach upwardly toward the printing line, the combination of a work-holder, and a mount upstanding in front of said device for slidably supporting said work-holder for up-and-down movement so as to shift an upper work-holding tip of said holder between close work-holding juxtaposition to the platen at a point above the printing line and a retracted position below said printing line and forwardly of said auxiliary device, said mount being in the form of a guide curved in the direction in which the work-holder is shifted and standing close to the front of said auxiliary device, the curvature of said guide rendering the movement of the work-holder curvilinear to minimize its forward component.

6. A device for holding a work-piece against the front of a revoluble platen including an elongate plate forming a work-holding finger, a second elongate plate forming a mount which may be disposed in upstanding position in front of said platen, the two plates having means whereby the finger-plate is slidably retained on said mount for up-and-down movement between effective and retracted positions, the mount-plate having lateral ears, extending beyond either side of the finger-plate, for attachment to a support, and a detent overlying the finger-plate to yieldably hold the latter in its upper, effective position, said detent also overlying said ears for attachment therewith to the support.

7. A device for holding a work-piece against the front of a revoluble platen including an elongate plate forming a work-holding finger, a second elongate plate forming a mount which may be disposed in upstanding position in front of said platen, the two plates having means whereby the finger-p1ate is slidably retained on said mount for up-and-down movement between effective and retracted positions, the mount-plate having lateral ears, extending beyond either side of the fingerplate, for attachment to a support, and a detent overlying the finger-plate to yieldably hold the latter in its upper, effective position, said detent also overlying said ears for attachment therewith to the support, the two plates having co-operating stops limiting the shift of the finger-plate to its effective and retracted positions.

8. A device for holding a work-piece against the front of a revoluble platen including an elongate plate forming a work-holding finger, a second elongate plate forming a mount which may be disposed in upstanding position in front of said platen, the two plates having means whereby the finger-plate is slidably retained on said mount for up-and-down movement between effective and retracted positions, the mount-plate having lateral ears, extending beyond either side of the finger-plate, for attachment to a support, and a detent overlying the finger-plate to snap over corresponding longitudinally spaced parts on the outer face of said holder to yieldably hold the latter in its upper, efiective, and lower, ineffective, positions, .said detent also overlying said ears for attachment therewith to the support, the fingerplate having a piece struck up from its said face at a point between the card-holding end and the upper one of said spaced parts, whereby said plate may be readily manipulated.

9. A device for holding a work-piece against the front of a revoluble platen including an elongate plate forming a work-holding finger, a second elongate plate forming a mount which may be disposed in upstanding position in front of said platen, the two plates having means whereby the finger-plate is slidably retained on said mount for up-and-down movement between effective and retracted positions, the mount-plate having lateral ears, extending beyond either side of the finger-plate, for attachment to a support, and a detent overlying the finger-plate to yieldably hold the latter in its upper, effective position, said detent also overlying said ears for attachment therewith to the support, the two plates being curved so that when associated with the platen the finger-plate when shifted has a curvilinear motion along an arc struck from a center behind the platen.

10. A work-holder for use with a front-strike revoluable platen including a mount upstanding in front of the platen and having a front convex -guiding surface curved, in the upstanding direction of the mount, toward a point on the platen above the printing line, and a work-holding finger in the form of an elongate plate curved lengthwise to conform with said convex surface and being slidably retained thereon, said plate having a topportion forming a work-holding tip and also having a lower shank, said top-portion having struck up forwardly therefrom a finger-piece for ma- L9ea194 nipulation of said work-holder plate, and said shank having detent-formations co-operative with a detent for yieldably retaining the work-holder plate in adjusted position on said surface.

11. A work-holder for use with a front-strike revoluble platen including a mount upstanding in front of the platen and having a front convex guiding surface curved, in the upstanding direction of the mount, toward a point on the platen above the printing line, and a work-holding finger in the form of an elongate plate curved lengthwise to conform with said convex surface and being slidably retained thereon, said plate having a top-portion forming a work-holding tip and also having .a lower shank, said top-portion having struck up forwardly therefrom a finger-piece for manipulation of said work-holder plate, and said shankhaving detent-formations co-operative with a .detent for yieldably retaining the work-holder plate in adjusted position on said surface, said mount being in the form of an elongate plate upstanding lengthwise and having lengthwise thereof a slot, said work-holder plate having means 00- operating with said slot to slidably retain the work-holder plate on said mount.

12. A work-holder for use with a front-strike revoluole platen including a mount upstanding in front of the platen and having a front convex guiding surface curved, in the upstanding direction of the mount, toward a point on the platen above the printing line, and a work-holding finger in the form of an elongate plate curved lengthwise to conform with said convex surface and being slidably retained thereon, said plate having a topportion forming a work-holding tip and also having .a lower shank, said top-portion having struck up forwardly therefrom a finger-piece for manipulation of said work-holder plate, and said shank having detent-formations co-operative with a detent for yieldably retaining the workholder plate in adjusted position on said surface, said mount being in the form of an elongate plate upstanding lengthwise and having lengthwise thereof .a slot, said work-holder plate having means co-operating with said slot to slidably retain the work-holder plate on said mount, said slot and means co-operating to limit the up-anddown movements of the work-holder plate.

WILLIAM F. HELMOND. 

